Occupant propelled roundabout



April 10, 1951 D. c. M CRAY OCCUPANT PROPELLED ROUNDABOUT Filed Nov. 17, 1947 Fig. 2.

Inventor [2000(0' 6. Mc Cray Patented Apr. 10, 1951 UNITED STATES f. NT

()CCUPANT PROPELLED ROUNDABOUT Donald C. McCray, Fairview, Pa.

Application November 17, 1947, Serial No. 786,410

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to new and useful im provements and structural refinements in amusement devices, and the principal object of the invention is to provide what may be referred to as a Whirligig, which includes a U-shaped member providing a pair of upright handles, said member being rotatable about a vertical axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a playground device which will be a source of continuous amusement, entertainment and exercise for children.

Another object of the invention is to provide a playground device which is simple in construction, which will readily lend itself to economical manufacture, and which may be quickly and easily installed in position.

With the above more important objects in view, and such other objects as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement and construction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention, showing the same in use.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, emphasizing the structure of the base and of the rotatable socket used in the invention, and

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the invention per se.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in the specification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the invention consists of a playground device designated generally by the reference character 5, the same embodying in its construction a vertical shaft 6 which is rigidly secured in a tubular sleeve 1 imbedded in a horizontal support, preferably a circular concrete platform or base 8.

The upper end portion of the shaft 6 is formed with suitable shoulders 9, I!) which provide seats for a pair of combined radial and thrust bearings II, l2, respectively, these being housed in a bore l3 of a socket member M which is rotatable about the vertical axis of the shaft 6.

A U-shaped member l5 includes a horizontal intermediate portion !6 and a pair of spaced uprights or handles H, the socket M being rigidly secured to the center of the intermediate portion I6, such as for example, by welding 58, or the like. To this end, the intermediate portion l6 may be cut in two, and welded to diametrically opposite sides of the head [4, as will be clearly apparent from the accompanying Figure 3.

When theinvention is placed in use, the user I tion 16 of the member [5, and places both hands upon the upright handles ll. Thereupon, by stretching her arms to full length and pushing herself with the remaining foot 2! (against the support 8), the user will cause the member 15 to rotate at considerable speed, after which the user may draw herself toward the vertical axis of the shaft 6 thus increasing the speed of rotation or spinning without further propulsion being necessary until the device eventually comes to a stop.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, further description thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

An amusement device comprising an upright U-shaped member providing a horizontal intermediate portion and a pair of substantially vertical end portions constituting handles adapted to be simultaneously gripped by the respective hands of a person standing between them on said intermediate portion, a, vertical shaft fixed in a horizontal support so as to project a short distance above the upper surface of the latter, a socket member rigid with and disposed midway between the ends of said horizontal portion, the upper end of said shaft projecting into said socket member, and combined radial and thrust bearings between said shaft and said socket member, whereby said U-shaped member is mounted to rotate about the axis of said shaft, the horizontal portion of said U-shaped member being disposed in such proximity relative to the horizontal support that a person standing between said handles with one foot on said intermediate portion may engage the horizontal support with the remaining foot so as to rotate the -U-shaped member about the axis of said shaft.

DONALD C. MCCRAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number 

